A Colorado district court has dismissed, with prejudice, a lawsuit challenging aspects of La Plata Electric Association’s (LPEA) power supply transition, concluding the claims lacked sufficient legal grounds. The lawsuit, filed in 2025, questioned the cooperative’s governance process related to its wholesale power portfolio decisions. With the dismissal, the case is permanently closed and cannot be refiled. This lawsuit resulted in more than $100,000 in legal expenses for the cooperative, costs ultimately borne by all of its members. 

“We are pleased with this decision and our focus remains on delivering affordable, reliable power,” said LPEA CEO Chris Hansen. “We will continue to build a flexible, locally driven energy portfolio for our members.” 

LPEA completed its power supply transition on April 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in its long-term strategy to increase local generation, expand resource flexibility, and manage costs for members. 

The cooperative will continue advancing a diversified energy portfolio, including local generation, battery storage, and participation in regional energy markets. 

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